Package receiving device



Aug. 15, 1939. .1. A. KEANE ET AL PACKAGE RECEIVING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1957 Aug. 7 15, 1939.

J. A. KEANE ET AL PACKAGE RECEIVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 15, 1939 J, KEANE ET AL 2,169,322

PACKAGE RECEIVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 195 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J J9 45 y ]0] q 10076 6 v I I as 95 4:; #4,,

Aug. 15, 1939. J. KEANE r AL 2,169,322

PACKAGE RECEIVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a n. 39 5-7 4g 3 Uosoph. A. Kacuzd Aug. 15, 1939. J KEANE; AL 2,169,322

PACKAGE RECEIVING DEVICE Filed Feb. 24-, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 5 51 i: .703 f MM J00 i I 99 o fl l 55 39 2% 2 J9 4 .2 76

;' 72' if l 7 06- J8 I I J5 k 75 ji rg w Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE RECEIVING DEVICE said Kittredge Application February 24, 1937, Serial No. 127,478

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to a package receiving device and particularly to a device which will receive deposits at a bank and issue a receipt for the article deposited.

In the commercial accounts in banks the deposits made from day to day vary in amount and a package of the items deposited will not be the same size each day. The device of the present invention is intended to mark on the package received the same information which appears on the receipt issued by the device, with the mark appearing on the package independently of the size thereof.

To avoid the possibility of removing an article after it has been deposited in the device, the printing mechanism is arranged to be actuated only after the door of the device is closed enough to prevent removal of the package. The printing mechanism is preferably actuated by the movement of the door and the receipt is not issued until the door is completely closed and has caused the package to be discharged into the collecting compartment associated with the device, from which compartment the package cannot be removed.

The device is intended to operate upon a standard type of package so that the deposited articles may be more readily handled by the clerks after they are deposited. Although a special form of package is intended to be used, the device is so arranged that a package, other than the predetermined form, may be deposited, although no receipt will be issued for the non-uniform package, unless the receiving agency so desires.

Although the device may be used as a night depository it is also intended to take the place of one or more receiving tellers for daytime deposits, thereby avoiding the necessity for customers waiting to make deposits at the hours during the day when the bank deposits and withdrawals are most active. The receipt issued by the device aids the depositor or the bank in subsequently identifying the particular material deposited, if necessary, and provides him with a receipt which indicates not only that a package has been deposited, but also indicating the time of day on which the package was deposited and the particular machine in which the deposit was made.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying the invention attached to a safe.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device and safe of Fig. 1, with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a special deposit envelope or package for use with the device.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1, showing the device positioned in the front wall of a tellers cage.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View on the line E56 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line l'! of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view along the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view showing a detail of the door controlling mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the door and the mechanism associated therewith, as in Fig. '7, showing the position of the parts when the door is partly closed.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 6, showing the position of the parts when the door is partly closed.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the printing mechanism which stamps the envelope and issues a receipt.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view along the line l3l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view along the line [4-H of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 10, showing the door in full open position.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the plate on which the envelope is positioned, showing the manner of insertion of an envelope in readiness for the printing operation.

Fig. 1'7 is a sectional View along the line ll--|'| of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional View showing the position of the printing mechanism as the door moves into closed position.

Fig. 19 is a Vertical sectional view of a detail, along the same section line as Figs. 6 and 11.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

With reference first to Figs. 1 and 2, a device I embodying the invention is adapted to receive a deposit, preferably placed in a package of a special character, through the opening 2 normally closed by the door 3. The device prints an identification mark upon the package and also issues a receipt 4 similarly marked. The package is then deposited automatically into a compartment beneath the device, the compartment shown being a safe of conventional construction, having a door '6 on the front by which it may be opened for removing deposited articles.

As shown in Fig. 4, the device I may be mounted in the front wall I of a tellers cage 8, or in any other wall, being set in a recess 9 therein, with the door 3 available from the front of the cage. With an arrangement of this character, the deposited articles are dropped by the device into a compartment I5 located within the tellers cage, access to the compartment being obtained through a suitable door, not shown, provided in one wall of the compartment.

The device is arranged to take packages of varying thickness so that varying quantities of material may be deposited in a single package. To this end, the packages used in the device are preferably envelopes of a special construction, as shown in Fig. 3, in which the envelope has a front wall I I and a rear wall l2, with a sealing flap l3 projecting from the edge of the rear wall, to close the opening at the end of the envelope when the material to be deposited has been placed therein. The envelope has an auxiliary fiap l4, which projects from one of the long edges of the envelope and is arranged to receive the printing placed on the envelope by the device as the envelope with the material therein is deposited. In certain uses of the device, where an envelope is unsuitable as a container for the articles, as where the articles are too bulky, the articles may be placed in a bag or other package to which a tag is attached. The tag functions in the same manner as the flap of the envelope to receive the printed identification hereinafter described. Where the envelope is used the flap I4 may be perforated sothat it may be detached from the remainder of the package.

With reference now to Figs. 6 and 11, the door 3 is secured against turning on a horizontal shaft which is journalled in suitable bearings I 6 provided by the base I l of the device, and is adapted to be swung outwardly by a handle I8 to permit the package to be inserted within the device. It will be noted that the door has an integral arcuate plate l9 which closes the opening before the door reaches the full closed position of Fig. 6, thereby preventing the removal of the deposited package after the stamping and receipt issuing mechanism has been set in operation. As will hereinafter appear, the package stamping mechanism is set in operation when the door reaches such a position during its closing movement that the plate I9 prevents removal of the package, or substitution of the deposited package for a different package. Mounted over the base I! and covering the entire operating mechanism of the device is a hood 20, in which is provided the opening 2 in which the door 3 is located. The latter also has reinforcing webs 22 and 23 which form therebetween an angle which aids in directing the envelope into the proper position for the printing operation thereon by engaging with the rearward edge of the envelope as the door is closed, as will hereinafter appear.

To prevent slamming of the door as it is being opened or closed, which might damage the operating mechanism within the device, and to eliminate noise, a dashpot is provided. As shown in Fig. 9, the shaft l5 has an arm 24 secured thereto, and a piston rod 25 is secured by a pin 26 to the end of the arm. A piston 21 connected to the end of the piston rod is slidable in a cylinder 28 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 29 secured to the base. A coil spring 30 is positioned within the cylinder 28 and engages with the piston 2? for normally urging the door into closed position. It will be understood that the weight of this spring is not necessarily heavy enough to close the door automatically, but will aid in closing the door to a greater or less extent, depending upon the pressure exerted by the spring. The piston 2'! has a relatively loose fit within the cylinder so that fluid in the cylinder can leak slowly past the piston to allow a slow movement of the door.

The dashpot mechanism is also arranged to control a back stop 3I, which prevents the deposited package, when inserted in the device, from going beyond the proper position for the operation of the printing mechanism. As shown in Fig. 6, the hood 20 has a depending vertical flange 32 on the inside thereof, with the lower edge extending horizontally as at 33 to engage with a horizontal extension 34 on the back stop 3 I. The back stop is carried by parallel arms 35 on a shaft 36 journalled in parallel guide plates 37 and 33 forming a part of the hood, and the shaft 36 also carries a second arm 39 which is in a position for engagement with the end of the cylinder 28 to cause the back stop 3| to move upwardly into the position of Fig. 6 as the door reaches closed position.

The bottom of the recess into which the package is placed when the door 3 is opened is defined by a plate 38, Fig. 6, journalled on a shaft 39' mounted in the base IT. A cam 49, Fig. 6, carried by and turnable with the shaft I5 on which the door is mounted, engages with the end of an arm 4I pivoted on a stud 42 in the base IT. The end of the arm 4| also engages with a wear plate 43 secured to the plate 38 so that movement of the door into open position causes the plate 38 to swing into the horizontal position of Figs. 10 and 11. A latch 44, Fig. 6, is journalled on a pin 45 in the base and is in a position for engagement with a portion of the plate 38 to hold the latter in the horizontal position shown during the closing movement of the door. As the door reaches the fully closed position of Fig. 6, a projecting lug 46 on the latch 44 is engaged by a portion of the door to rock the latch, thereby releasing the plate 38 and allowing it to drop into the position of Fig. 6. A suitable spring 47 normally holds the latch 44 in the plate supporting position of Fig. 10. The downward swinging movement of the plate 38 is limited by a projecting lug 48 on the base and a coil spring 49, positioned on the lug, engages with the plate to prevent excessive noise or shock as the plate drops into the position of Fig. 6. It will be noted from Figs. 6 and 11 that the cam is arranged to cause the plate 38 to be moved into the horizontal position of Fig. 11 before the portion IQ of the door allows access to the inside of the device during the opening of the door, and that the plate remains in its horizontal position until the door is almost fully closed.

A device which prevents the door from being opened after being only partially closed is provided to prevent removal of a deposited package and to avoid interference with the printing mechanism. To this end, as shown in Figs. 6, 11 and 19, the shaft 39 has journalled thereon a small latch 50 which, when the plate is in the horizontal position, hangs by gravity in a position to engage with any one of a plurality of ratchet teeth 5| provided in a collar 52 secured against rotation on the shaft I5. As shown in Fig. 19, the teeth 5| are in a position to be engaged by the latch 50 only when the door, being closed, is in such a position that the portion l9 thereof prevents access to the inside of the device. At this point the printing mechanism begins to operate and the latch 50 prevents reopening of the door from this position until the door has been completely closed to release the plate 38', thereby rendering the latch 50 inoperative. When this occurs, the latch 59 is moved out of position to engage the teeth and it is possible for the person using the door to open the device to the full open position for the insertion of a package. The ratchet teeth 51 thus prevent opening of the door only during the normal closing movement between the partially closed position of Fig. 11 and the fully closed position.

The device is arranged to issue a receipt for each package deposited in the device and the receipt issuing mechanism is arranged to stamp the same identifying marks on both the package and the receipt. With reference to Fig. 5, the printing and ticket issuing mechanism is mounted on a housing 53 journalled on a vertical pin 54 on the hood 20. The housing is provided, as shown in Fig. 13, with a pair of ears 55 which are engaged by the pin 54, thereby providing for removal of the entire printing mechanism, by removal of the pin 54, in the event that it fails to operate satisfactorily or if it is desirable to substitute a different form of printing device.

The printing and receipt issuing mechanism comprises, as best shown in Figs. 12 and 13, a roll 55 of relatively narrow paper on which the receipt is printed, said roll being journalled on a stud 5'! carried by the housing 53. The web from this roll is fed between a pressure roll 59 and a printing roller 59. The roll 58 is journalled on a pin 69 carried by the free end of an arm 6| which is in turn journalled on a stud 62 on the housing 59. A coil spring 63 normally urges the roll 58 against the printing roller. The printing roller 59 is carried on a pin 64 in the end of an arm 55 mounted on a stud 65 in the housing 53, said arm extending in a generally horizontal direction, as shown. The stud is preferably removable to provide for removal of the arm 55 for replacement of the printing roll. Ink for the printing roller for printing on the package and receipt is supplied by an endless inked ribbon 6B, which passes around the printing roller 59 and around a parallel roller 61 mounted on a pin 58 on the end of an arm 69 journalled on a stud provided by the housing. A coil spring ll keeps the ribbon 99 under suitable tension at all times.

Journalled on a pin 12 mounted in lugs 12' provided by the plate 38 is a pressure roller 13 located directly beneath the printing roller 59 and in a position to urge the extending flap of the envelope against the printing roller during the printing operation. It will be apparent that the projecting flap of the envelope is positioned between the roller 13 and the printing roller 59, and that the receipt passes between the roller 59 and the pressure roller 58.

As the door is moved into open position for the insertion of a package therein the roller 59 is elevated from its normal position, to space it from the roller 12, thus allowing the projecting fiap of the package or envelope to be properly positioned for a printing operation thereon. To this end, as shown in Fig. 15, the shaft 39 has journalled thereon a bell crank lever 14, one end of which is in a position to engage with a pin on a collar it on the shaft 15. The other end of the lever 14 is arcuate, as at 11, to engage with a collar 18 (see also Fig. 13) on the shaft 64 on which the printing roller 59 is mounted. As the door reaches the full open position of Fig. 15, the bell crank lever 14 is rocked slightly counterclockwise, thereby raising the printing roller 59 upwardly away from the roller I3. This movement of the roller 59 involves a rocking movement about the stud 65' on which the arm 65 for the printing roller is journalled.

As the printing roller moves upwardly the pressure roller 58 also moves upwardly through the medium of cooperating cam plates 89 and 81 on the arms SI and 65 respectively. As a result of the relative positions of the studs 62 and E5, the pressure roller 58 moves upwardly faster than the printing roller 59, so that the pressure roller 59 is spaced from the printing roller 59 at the same time that the printing roller is spaced from the roller 13.

As the door is moved from the full open position of Fig. 15 into the closed position, the print ing roller 59 is given a positive turning movement by means of a gear segment 32 carried by an arm 83 journalled on the shaft i5 on which the door is mounted. The gear segment engages with a small pinion 83, Figs. 13 and 15, journalled on the shaft 54 for the printing roller. Secured to the pinion 83 is the collar 18, which, as shown in Fig. 14, has a slot 85 in which is mounted a pawl 85. A pin 81 provides a pivotal support I for the pawl, and a spring 88 normally urges the pawl inwardly for engagement in a single notch 89 provided in a sleeve 99 on the shaft 5 3. The printing roller 59 is positively secured to the sleeve 99 for rotation therewith.

The gear segment 82 is rocked counterclockwise as the door is opened through the medium of a coil spring 9|, Fig. '7, which causes the arm 93 to rock upwardly as the door is opened. counterclockwise movement of the arm and rack is limited by engagement between the arm and a part of the base when the rack reaches the position of Fig. 10. The pawl 85 is so arranged that the rotation of the pinion 83', as the segment 82 moves upwardly, has no affect on the printing roller. The segment 82 has a pin 92 which is in a position for engagement by a part of the-door when the latter reaches the position of Fig. 10 during the closing of the door, in which position the portion IQ of the door prevents access to the inside of the device.

The printing roller 59 is keyed to the sleeve 99 to provide [or removal of the roller therefrom for replacement of the roller if desired. As shown, the arm 55 has a plate 66' secured thereto, as by screws 61 with the plate supporting the inner end of the pin 64. Removal of the plate 65' provides for removal of the printing roller axially of the sleeve 90, when one roller is to be substituted for another.

As the door is moved from this position to its fully closed position the segment 3'2 is moved downwardly, procuring one complete rotation of the printing roller 59. The pinion 83 is of such a size that the printing roller is advanced only through one complete revolution for each closing movement of the door. Since the projecting flap M on the envelope is positioned between the printing roller 59 and the roller 13, and since the printing roller 59 rotates counterclockwise, Fig. 18, it will be clear that the rotation of the printing roller causes the package to be moved along on the plate 38, to be discharged into the collecting compartment. At the same time the web of paper from the roll 56 is advanced by the printing roller 59 upwardly between spaced guides 93 and 94 carried by the housing 53. An opening 95 in the housing allows the end of the printed slip to project outwardly for the person using the device to tear off his receipt. The clamping action between the rollers 58 and 59 holds the web so that the receipt cannot readily be drawn out Or the device but will assure the receipt being torn at the proper point.

The printing mechanism is preferably of an indexing character which carries a number, or a set of numbers, which are automatically changed for each rotation of the printing roller so that each successively received package will be successively numbered.

The printing roller also carries such printing characters as are desirable, for example, a symbol or number to indicate the particular device in which the roller is located, especially useful where several devices are used at the same package receiving station or at different stations by the same receiving agency. The printing roll may also print the date, the time of day, the name of the bank where the deposit is made, or any other desired information.

By reason of the relative spacing between the roller 59 and the opening 95, it will be understood that the receipt printed during the operation of the door will not be advanced far enough to be accessible outside of the opening 95. To assure the issuance of the proper receipt, one fully printed receipt is always in the device between the roller 59 and the opening 95, and the receipt issued when the door is operated is this previously printed receipt. To make sure that the receipt issued may have the same number as the package deposited, the indexing mechanism is arranged to operate during the issuing of the receipt and the number on the printing roll is automatically changed after the package has been marked and before the printing mechanism operates upon the paper web 56. By this arrangement, the receipt which the user of the machine obtains is the receipt which was marked during the preceding printing mechanism when the previous deposit was made; the number on his receipt will, however, correspond to the number marked upon the package which he deposited. By obvious changes the machine can be made to deliver the currently printed receipt rather than the previously printed receipt if desired.

One safety feature of the mechanism is to prevent the issuance of a receipt if no package is deposited. To this end, the device has a feeler in the form of a finger 96, Fig. 12, which is in a position to hang with the free end thereof throgh an opening 97 in the plate 38', the finger being pivoted on a pin 98 in the base of the machine. Movable with the finger is an arm 99 to which is connected a latch I by means of a pin !9I. The latch I00 is movable on a fixed guide I02 provided by the base of the machine, and if no package is deposited on the plate 38, the latch I00 will be moved by the weight of the finger 95 toward the left, Fig. 12, into a position to engage beneath a lug I03 on a projecting portion I84 of the arm 65. The latch I00 thus holds the printing roller 59 away from the pressure roller 13 when no package is deposited in such a position as to hold the finger 96 above the surface of the plate 38. The issuance of a receipt is thereby prevented since the roller 58 is held away from the printing roller 59 when the roller is elevated.

As a further safety feature, a second finger I05 is mounted on a pin I06, with the free end of the finger adapted normally to be received in a depression I01 in the plate 38. When no envelope or package is placed on the plate, the finger rests in the depression I01 and causes an arm I08, integral with the finger, to engage beneath the pin 60, on which the roller 58 is mounted, there by preventing the roller 58 from engaging with the printing roller. If an envelope is in proper position for the operation of the printing mechanism, both fingers 96 and I05 are elevated, as shown in Fig. 17, to allow the rollers 50 and 59 to move downwardly into engagement with each other and for engagement between the roller 59 and the roller I3 as the door is closed, so that the package will be stamped and so that a re ceipt will be issued.

A signal mechanism may be incorporated in the device for the purpose of indicating that the device is being used. To this end, a buzzer I09 is provided and is actuated during the opening and closing of the door. The buzzer is actuated from a suitable source of electric power which may be suitable dry cells IIO. One terminal of the source is connected to the arm 83, and the other terminal of the source is connected to the buzzer. The buzzer is also electrically connected to a finger III mounted on and insulated from the base of the machine, with the end of the finger in a position to engage with the arm 83 as it moves upwardly from its normal position of Fig. '7. The finger I I I is preferably so arranged that when the door reaches full open position, the finger no longer engages the arm 83 so that the buzzer does not operate while the door is fully open, but only during the opening and closing movement of the door. Thus if the door is partially opened and left in that position, the signal device will indicate that the device is improperly used.

In the operation of the machine, the user of this device opens the door for depositing the package by a pull on the handle I8, the parts being normally in the position of Fig. 6. As the door starts to open, the finger II I makes contact with the arm 83 to set the buzzer in operation, thus indicating the device is being used. As the door opens, the arm 83 and gear segment 83' swing counterclockwise with the door until the segment reaches the position of Fig. 10. At the same time, the cam 40 causes an upward swinging movement of the plate 38' into the horizontal position of Fig. 10, where the latch 44 supports it. It will be noted that as the gear segment and plate 38' reach the position of Fig. 10, the portion I9 of the door still completely closes the interior of the device so that the user of the device cannot obtain access to the interior. As the door continues outward swinging movement beyond the position of Fig. 10, the arm 74 is rocked counterclockwise by the pin 75, thereby elevating both the printing roller 59 and the pressure roll 58 to allow the insertion of a package or envelope. As the door swings into the full open position of Fig. 15, the end of the dash pot mechanism swings downwardly, Fig. 6, to allow the back stop 3I to move downwardly into the position of Fig. 11, in which position the lower edge extends through the opening I I2 provided in the inner end of the plate 38'. Thus, when the door is fully open, a package of the form shown in Fig. 3 and filled to any desired extent can be inserted through the door with the flap I l projecting in a direction to be positioned between the printing roller 59 and the roller "I3. It will be apparent that any amount of material may be placed within the envelope 2 without affecting the operation of the printing mechanism since the flap M, which is the part of the package receiving the printing impression, is always a uniform thickness. The envelope or package preferably carries information printed thereon indicating the proper position for insertion in the device.

With the package inserted properly, the flap l4 elevates the fingers and H25, rendering inoperative the latches Ifiil and ms to allow the printing operation to take place during the closing of the door. As the door begins its closing movement, no action takes place until the door reaches nearly the position of Figs. 10 or 11. at which time the dash pot is elevated by the doors movement to cause the back stop 3| to be withdrawn from operative position. During this portion of the closing movement of the door, the webs 22 or 23 on the door may engage the rearward edge of the envelope and urge it inwardly or" the device against the back stop, as will be apparent from Fig. 15.

As the door reaches the position of Figs. 10 and 11 during its closing movement, the latch 50, which up to now has been riding on the periphery of the collar 52, becomes operative to prevent the door from again being opened until it has first been completely closed to actuate the printing mechanism and to release the plate 38. As the door continues its closing movement from the position of Figs. 10 and 11, it causes a downward movement of the gear segment 82 to provide for a clockwise (Fig. 12) rotation of the printing roller. This clockwise rotation advances the package along the plate 38' at the same time that it is printing identification on the projecting flap M of the package, and simultaneously advances a printed receipt through the slot 85. After the do: is almost completely closed, it engages a part of latch M, thereby releasing the plate 38 to cause the package to be deposited into the depcsitciy beneath the device. The door having completely closed, it may now be reopened at any time for the insertion of another package, since the latch 58 is rendered inoperative when plate 38 swings downwardly. The receipt is torn off from the web at a point adjacent the opening 95.

In the event that the person using the device fails to close the door completely, the audible signal will continue to operate, indicating that the device has not been operated properly, and any one nearby can then see that the device is properly closed. Since the receipt is not issued until the door is almost completely closed, the possibility of failing to close the door properly is quite remote.

The receipt will not be projected from within the machine until the package has been deposited and the door is practically closed so that no one can obtain a receipt by pulling on the end of the paper web, as the end of the web is inaccessible. It will be noted, in connection with the printing device, that the lug l l3 which causes the indexing mechanism in the printing roller to operate during each rotation of the roller, is so located on the printing roller as not to engage with the roller 13 when the roller 59 is held in its elevated position by the latch it, thus preventing indexing of the printing mechanism if no envelope flap is in a position to receive the printed impression. The indexing mechanism of this character is well known and need not be described in detail. It will be understood that whatever type is desired, in addition to the indexing mechanism, may be incorporated in the periphery of the printing roller in the usual manner. Moreover, the printing roller 59 may be replaced by a different roller where diiferent information is to be printed on the receipt.

The above description of the operation of the machine is based on the assumption that a suitably proportioned package having a projecting fiap is deposited in the device. It will be understood that any package may be deposited by opening the door, inserting the package, and again closing the door, but that no receipt will be issued unless the package has a projecting flap which will elevate both fingers and H35 when the package is inserted. The device may accordingly be used for depositing various types of packages where no receipt is required, but the specially designed package is used if a receipt is desired. Obviously, the device may be made larger or smaller where it is to be used for extremely large or extremely small packages, as where the device is used for another purpose than for accepting commercial deposits in banking establishments.

It will be understood that although a small paper could be inserted beneath the finger 96, it would be impossible for any person unfamiliar with the complete structure of the machine to place a strip of paper in such a position as to elevate both fingers so as to have a receipt issue without at the same time having a printed iden tification mark on the strip of paper which would become the deposited article for which the re-- ceipt issued. This arrangement prevents any fraudulently inclined person from asserting that he deposited an article of value for which he has a receipt, since whatever article he uses for supporting the fingers 96 and H35 will necessarily receive the printed identification and will show the article deposited was not of any practical value. The bank will also have the deposited paper as evidence of its value.

It will be noted that the printing mechanism does not begin to operate until the door has been moved toward closed position far enough to prevent the removal of the deposited package, and that by the time the door has been completely closed, the deposited package has been dropped into the collecting chamber which may be the safe 5, or the compartment in, and is no longer accessible to a person opening the device. As the door is re-opened, the plate 38 prevents access to the collecting chamber as will be apparent.

A further feature of the device is that it discourages the use of the device as a plaything, since no result is obtained other than an opening and closing of the door, unless a package is inserted, as otherwise no receipt will issue. This arrangement is desirable to prevent children from playing with the device to such an extent as to interfere with its general and intended use. The device being actuated entirely by hand, it is not attractive as a toy and will not be so used. The signal will also indicate the use of the device in this manner.

Although the device has been described in con nection with the depositing of relatively valuable articles in banks, or other depositories, it will be readily understood that a larger device of the same general character could readily be used for the receipt of laundry bundles in which the bundle would have a tag to receive the same identification mark that the issued receipt shows, making possible a quick identification of the deposited package when claimed by the owner. Many other similar uses for the device will be readily apparent, as for example, in check rooms, in railroad stations especially, where the person in charge of the check room would be required only to distribute packages when claimed and would not be bothered by the necessity of issuing receipts for packages deposited. Where the device is used for commercial deposits in banking houses, the flap of the envelope preferably incorporates the information found on a deposit slip, so that the bank has a deposit slip automatically stamped to show the time and manner in which the deposit was made. The flaps, being detachable, and all of a uniform size, can readily be filed for record of the deposits, and is a valu able record by reason of the depositors name and address on the slip generally in his own handwriting.

The device is also useful in factories in checking pieces of work produced on a piece-work basis, as the worker has a receipt identifying each package of pieces deposited in the device.

We claim:

1. In a package receiving device, having a container associated therewith to receive the deposited packages, a door normally closing an opening in the device, means for stamping on an article deposited, means for issuing a printed receipt, and means responsive to closing movement of the door for actuating said stamping and said issuing means.

2. In package receiving device, having a container associated therewith to receive the deposited packages, a door normally closing an open ing in the device, means for stamping on an article deposited, means for issuing a printed receipt, means responsive to closing movement of the door for actuating said stamping and said issuing means, and a safety mechanism to render said actuating means inoperative when no article is deposited.

3. In a package receiving device, having a corn tainer associated therewith to receive the deposited packages, 2. door normally closing an opening in the device, means for issuing a receipt for an article deposited in the device, means re sponsive to closing of the door for actuating said issuing means, and a safety mechanism to render said issuing means inoperative when no article is deposited.

4. In a package receiving device, having a container associated therewith to receive the deposited packages, a door normally closing an opening in the device, said door being arranged to close the opening before the door reaches the end of its movement toward fully closed position, means for issuing a receipt for a deposited article, and means responsive to closing movement of the door after the opening has been closed thereby for actuating said issuing means.

5. In a package receiving device, having a container associated therewith to receive the depcsited packages, a door normally closing an opening in the device, a printing mechanism arranged to print on the package and on a receipt for the package, means responsive to movement of the door for actuating said mechanism, and means for mounting said mechanism within the device to provide for removal of the mechanism as a unit from the device.

6. In a package receiving device, door normally closing an opening, means for stamping an article deposited in the device, means responsive to closing movement of the door for actuating said means, and means operative during the portion of the closing movement of the door which actuates said stamping means to prevent reopening of the door.

7. In a package receiving device, having a container associated therewith to receive the deposited packages, a. door normally closing an opening in the device, means for issuing a receipt for anarticle deposited in the device, means responsive to a portion of the closing movement of the door for actuating said issuing means, and means operative during the portion of the closing movement of the door which actuates said issuing means to prevent re-opening of the door.

8. In a package receiving device, having a container associated therewith to receive the deposited packages, a door normally closing an opening in the device, a movable plate positioned in the device and movable in response to opening of the door into a position to receive a deposited package and to prevent access to the container, a stop movable within the device to engage the leading edge of the package, a printing mechanism comprising a printing roller and a pressure roller, one of which is carried by the plate, means for spacing said rollers as the door is opened to permit a part of the package to be received between said rollers, means for actuating said printing mechanism, and means for holding said rollers in spaced relation during the closing of the door if no part of the package is positioned between the rollers.

9. In a package receiving device adapted to issue a receipt when a package of a predetermined structure is deposited, said package having a projecting flap on which printing is received, the device comprising a door normally closing an opening in the device, a movable plate within the device in a position to receive the dc posited article, and a printing mechanism comprising members between which the flap on the package is received, and means for spacing said members during the depositing of a package, said printing mechanism operating on the flap independently of the size of the remainder of the package.

10. In a package receiving device adapted to issue a receipt when a package of a predetermined structure is deposited, said package having a projecting flap on which printing is received, the device comprising a door normally closing an opening in the device, a movable plate within the device in a position to receive the deposited article, a printing mechanism comprising members between which the flap on the package is received for a printing operation thereon, said printing mechanism also issuing a receipt, means for actuating said printing mechanism, and means to render said actuating mechanism inoperative if the flap on the package is not in position between the members comprising the printing mechanism.

11. In a bank deposit receiving device in which packages having listed thereon the enclosed items are deposited, a housing having an opening to receive the packages, means within the housing for marking the portion of the package where the list is located, means within the housing for locating the package in. predetermined relation to the marking means, means associated with said locating means for preventing removal of the package after the latter has been marked, and means for issuing an identifying receipt.

12. In a bank deposit receiving device in which packages having listed thereon the enclosed items are deposited, a housing having an opening to receive the package, means for issuing a receipt and simultaneously identifying the portion of the package where the list is located to correspond to the receipt, said means being actuated exteriorly of the device, means within the housing for locating the package in predetermined relation to the marking means, and means associated with said locating means for preventing removal of the package after the latter has been marked.

13. In a package receiving device adapted for the depositing of a package having an integral removable portion, a housing having an opening to receive the deposited package, mechanism for marking the removable portion, means within the housing for locating the package in predetermined relation to the marking means, means associated with said locating means for preventing removal of the package after the latter has been marked, and manually movable means exteriorly of the housing for actuating said marking mechanism.

14. In a. package receiving device adapted for the depositing of a package having an integral removable portion, a housing having an opening to receive the deposited package, mechanism for marking the removable portion, means within the housing for locating the package in predetermined relation to the marking means, means associated with said locating means for preventing removal of the package after the latter has been marked, manually movable means exteriorly of the housing for actuating said marking mechanism, and receipt issuing means, said manually movable means also providing for actuation of said issuing means.

15. In a package receiving device adapted for the depositing of a package having an integral removable flap, a housing having an opening to receive the deposited package, receipt issuing means, mechanism for marking the projecting flap and the receipt, means within the housing for locating the package in predetermined rela tion to the marking means, means associated with said locating means for preventing removal of the package after the latter has been marked, and manually actuated means exteriorly of the housing for actuating said mechanism and the receipt issuing means.

JOSEPH A. KEANE. FRANCIS J. KITI'REDGE. ALFRED P. BURNS. 

